🏈 NFL Training Camps 2025: Top Position Battles to Watch as Camps Kick Off This Week

NFL training camps are officially underway for 2025, and this year’s position battles are as juicy as ever. From high-profile quarterback competitions to wide-open receiver rooms, here are the key names and details you need to watch as camp drama unfolds.

Quarterback Battles:

Cleveland Browns: Joe Flacco vs. Kenny Pickett vs. Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon Gabriel

• Joe Flacco enters as the favorite after steadying the Browns late last season, but don’t count out the challengers.

• Kenny Pickett (ex-Steeler) and Dillon Gabriel (rookie) are both in the mix, but it’s Shedeur Sanders—the fifth-round rookie out of Colorado—who’s generating the most buzz. Sanders fell in the draft but has impressed coaches in minicamp with his poise and arm talent.

• With Deshaun Watson sidelined by another Achilles injury, this is a true open battle. The Browns face a brutal early schedule (Cincinnati, Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota in London, Pittsburgh), so expect a quick hook if the Week 1 starter stumbles.

  
  

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones

• Anthony Richardson was supposed to be the guy, but a shoulder injury has him trailing in camp.

• Enter Daniel Jones, fresh off his Giants/Vikings exit, who’s reportedly building chemistry with the offense and is the early favorite to start.

• Richardson’s upside is massive, but if he can’t stay healthy or sharp, the Colts could roll with single game playoff winner Jones to start the year.

Backfield Breakdown:

Los Angeles Chargers – Sonic x Knuckles 2.0?

• Najee Harris brings proven power and experience to the Chargers, aiming to lead their run game after a solid but uneven stint in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton’s explosiveness and receiving skills make him a rookie to watch in LA’s backfield mix.

• Breaking Balls Sports Omarion Hampton is the guy moving forward — the Chargers used their first-round pick (No. 22 overall) on him, showing confidence in his explosiveness and receiving skills. Meanwhile, Najee Harris’s Fourth of July fireworks accident is definitely not the best look for a guy they just signed, opening the door even wider for Hampton to take over the backfield.

Pittsburgh Steelers – Warren Faces Rookie Challenge from Kaleb Johnson

• Jaylen Warren enters camp as the Steelers’ lead back after a solid 2024 campaign, but all eyes are on Kaleb Johnson, the bruising rookie from Iowa taken with Pittsburgh’s third pick. Johnson’s powerful running style and college production have coaches excited about a true 1-2 punch in the backfield.

• Breaking Balls Sports Take: I expect more of the same usage with Jaylen Warren as the Steelers’ third-down back. Meanwhile, rookie Kaleb Johnson will likely take over as the early-down and goal-line back that Najee used to own, using his power running style to handle the heavy workloads and short-yardage situations

  
  

Denver Broncos – Four headed monster aka Fantasy Football Nightmare

• The Denver Broncos’ backfield is a true fantasy nightmare in 2025, featuring RJ Harvey, J.K. Dobbins, Audric Estime, and Jaleel McLaughlin all jockeying for touches. Reports out of camp say Harvey and Dobbins are expected to split carries as the lead options, but Estime (who flashed as a rookie) and McLaughlin (572 scrimmage yards, 3 TDs last season) are both in the mix and could easily carve out roles

• Breaking Balls Sports Take: With four capable backs and no clear workhorse, this committee approach makes it nearly impossible to trust any Denver RB as a reliable fantasy starter—good luck guessing who’s getting the ball near the goal line each week

Wide Receiver Rooms: Who Steps Up?

Green Bay Packers – Logjam of Talent

• The Packers’ WR room is crowded with talent and question marks — Jayden Reed looked like the guy early last year, Dontayvion Wicks took over late, Christian Watson flashed the year before, and now first-round rookie Matthew Golden is in the mix.

• Breaking Balls Sports Take: Matthew Golden is the guy. The Packers’ WR room is as crowded as it’s ever been, but you don’t draft an offensive player in the first round unless you plan to feature him — and the last time Green Bay took a wide receiver in Round 1 was Javon Walker in 2002

Buffalo Bills – Josh Looking for His Guy

• With Stefon Diggs long gone, the Bills are still looking for new faces to step up. Keep an eye on second year WR Keon Coleman and now veteran Khalil Shakir who was in some peoples eyes a bit of a disappointment last season, both battling for Josh Allen’s trust.

• Breaking Balls Sports Take: It’s Keon’s year to take over. We’ve seen plenty of recent second-year breakout stars at receiver—think of DK Metcalf with the Seahawks, who made the leap from 58 catches, 900 yards, and 7 TDs as a rookie in 2019 to 83 catches, 1,303 yards, and 10 TDs in 2020. Keon Coleman has the talent, play style and opportunity to follow that same path in Buffalo.

New England Patriots – Maye Ready to Take the Leap, but With Who?

• The Patriots have added veteran Stefon Diggs and rookie Kyle Williams to an already crowded and uncertain WR room. While Diggs brings proven elite talent, he’s coming off a torn ACL, and Williams is an unproven rookie looking to make his mark. Alongside Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker, the group lacks a clear-cut No. 1 receiver..

• Breaking Balls Sports Take: It’s anyone’s guess who will lead the Patriots’ WR room. Stefon Diggs seems like the obvious choice as the storied veteran, but video has already surfaced of him on a boat with questionable company—not exactly the focus you want from your new WR1. Bold take here: Kyle Williams out of Washington State, taken 69th overall, leads the charge. Williams brings alignment versatility, route-running polish, and home run speed, and with his college production and upside, don’t be surprised if he becomes Drake Maye’s go-to guy as a rookie.